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Ok, on to the preview!
5A Region 4 Preview: Hadzialijagic Stays, Ruot Arrives, Cyprus Still Sets the Standard
Region 4 was not close last winter. Cyprus went 14-0 and 20-4. Hillcrest finished 11-3. West was 10-4. West Jordan sat at 7-7. Everybody else chased.
The senior class emptied several gyms. At Cyprus, Koli Fosita (17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists) and Beckham Bayles (15.6 points, 3.9 assists) are 2026 graduates. At West, Elijah Albertson and Matthew Fox graduated. At West Jordan, Ian McIntyre, Ahmad Mullahkhul, and Brock Litchfield all graduated. At Kearns, Xian Brown, Josh Kau, and Aiden Oliver graduated. What comes back is still the most interesting young core in the region — and UtahBasketball.net already had both Cyprus names on the board before the transfer.
What comes back
Cyprus (20-4, 14-0)
Fosita and Bayles graduate. Alen Hadzialijagic (2028) is back after 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. On the UtahBasketball.net 2028 rankings breakdown, he was discussed as a top-15 name — high-IQ, “Jokic-ish” passing and footwork. Braden Rogers (2027) added 5.5 points. Sam Ellsworth (2027) added 4.6.
Then the addition: Kalou Ruot transfers in from Judge Memorial. UtahBasketball.net had him as a 2028 sleeper when he was still at Judge — D1 coaches already asking about him — and later as a 6-7 piece who can take over the paint as he adds strength. Tre Smith’s Pirates lose two leading scorers and still have a ranked 2028 Jokicesque big plus a ranked 2028 rim protector and finisher who just changed addresses. Watch out for Cam Tingey break out season as well!
Hillcrest (15-9, 11-3)
Ezra Bell, Grady Court, Jack Bradburn, and Cyrus Nielsen are 2026 graduates. Tyler Ashby (2027) is back after 9.0 points and 2.2 assists. Miles Ence (2027, 6-5), Anthony Burris (2027), and Carson Powell (2027) return. Taft Ashby and Rafael Olivera Dos Santos (2028, 6-5) are the next wave. The Huskies were the only team that lived with Cyprus for a full region slate. The next group already has size and a year in Brandon Sluga’s rotation.
West (13-12, 10-4)
Albertson (15.2 points, 6.0 assists) and Fox (13.2 points) graduated. Lester Falatea (2028) is back after 8.0 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. Samiu Taukiuvea (2028) added 8.2 points and 5.0 rebounds. Bobby Mohamed (2028) scored 5.6 with 1.6 assists. A 10-4 region team that could score 70 now runs through two 2028s who already produced in the rotation.
West Jordan (9-15, 7-7)
McIntyre, Mullahkhul, and Litchfield are gone. That was the scoring backcourt. Linkon Hall (2028, 6-6) is the size piece who already saw varsity minutes. Brooks Halterman and Mason Dorenbosch were rotation names last year; the Jaguars are handing the newly renovated gym to the next class after a .500 region finish.
Kearns (7-16, 6-8)
Brown (10.3 points, 4.0 assists), Kau (10.0 points, 5.4 rebounds), and Oliver (8.1) graduated. Naz Herrera (2028) is the name who has shown up on statewide boards. Daniel Owda, Tony Chairez, and Butros Owda are 2027s who were already on the varsity list. The Cougars were competitive in a league Cyprus ran. This year starts with a new featured scorer.
Granger (5-18, 4-10) / Taylorsville (6-16, 3-11) / Hunter (1-22, 1-13)
Hunter has a clear returning piece: Noah Francom (2027) led the Wolverines at 12.2 points. Yussuf Duro (2028) added 5.1. Granger and Taylorsville already won region games. The next 2027 in those gyms changes the middle of the standings.
Predicted finish
Cyprus — Hadzialijagic and Ruot give them a front court who can make a deep run at state
Hillcrest — Ashby and Ence give them the best returning rotation after Cyprus.
West — Falatea and Taukiuvea are 2028s who already produced on a 10-4 region team.
Kearns — Herrera is one to watch in 2028
West Jordan — Hall is the 6-6 2028. Lost a lot of backcourt scoring
Granger
Taylorsville
Hunter — Francom is a real 2027 scorer to keep an eye on
First-team All-Region lean
Alen Hadzialijagic, Cyprus (2028)
Kalou Ruot, Cyprus (2028)
Tyler Ashby, Hillcrest (2027)
Miles Ence, Hillcrest (2027)
Fifth: Lester Falatea, West (2028), Samiu Taukiuvea, West (2028), Braden Rogers, Cyprus (2027), or Noah Francom, Hunter (2027)